"Keeweechic's Edinburgh" a Edinburgh Travel Page by keeweechic

Edinburgh is the beautiful capital of Scotland and birth place of many famous people throughout the years. Edinburghs history began in the 5th century when a fort was built on a volcanic crag to protect Scotland from invading Angles of Northumberland. Building space was limited within the fortification wall, and so the town had to sprout upwards. Tall tenements up to fourteen stories high were built on narrow alleys which is now known as the "old town" and were developed down the royal mile to Holyrood Abbey. People of all social levels were crammed together. This was the Edinburgh of Mary Queen of Scots, of the famous preacher John Knox, and Heroes such as the Marquis of Montrose. Once free of the fear of invasion, Edinburgh was able to expand and grow beyond its medieval walls.

After 300 years, Edinburgh is now home again to the Scottish Parliament, the city has survived war, civil and religious strife, plague and severe water shortages. Today the city is rich with historic buildings, beautiful parks and gardens and a wealth of works from great artists and writers.

Where the huge Castle holds its state,
And all the steep slope down,
Whose ridgy back heaves to the sky,
Piled deep and massy, close and high,
Mine own romantic town!

Walter Scott

We set off travelling up through Glasgow and the West Coast (separate Travel page) and came down through the middle and over to the East Coast and Edinburgh, missing the top part of the East Coast. Unfortunately we were there about a month before the Military Tattoo which would have been a sight to have experienced.

Now that VT has provided us with more places/pages, I will chop up this page into its respective areas when I get a chance.